Non-profit charter management organizations (CMOs) and other entities that are not for-profit may apply. (A CMO is an organization that operates or manages multiple charter schools by centralizing or sharing certain functions and resources among schools.) Eligible applicants may apply as a group or consortium.

This competition includes an absolute priority that eligible applicants must have experience operating or managing more than one high-quality charter school. A high-quality charter school is a school that shows evidence of strong academic results for the past three years (or over the life of the school, if the school has been open for fewer than three years, based on the following factors:

Increasing student academic achievement and attainment for all students, including, as applicable, educationally disadvantaged students served by charter schools operated or managed by the applicant.

Either (i) demonstrated success in closing historic achievement gaps for the subgroups of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA at the charter schools operated or managed by the applicant, or (ii) no significant achievement gaps between any of the subgroups of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the ESEA at the charter schools operated or managed by the applicant and significant gains in student academic achievement have been made with all populations of students served by the charter schools operated or managed by the applicant.

Achieved results (including performance on statewide tests, annual student attendance and retention rates, high school graduation rates, college attendance rates, and college persistence rates where applicable and available) for low-income and other educationally disadvantaged students served by the charter schools operated or managed by the applicant that are above the average academic achievement results for such students in the State.

No significant compliance issues, particularly in the areas of student safety and financial management. Significant compliance issues mean violations that did, will, or could lead to the revocation of a school’s charter.

This competition does not require applicants to cost-share or match grant funds.